Recent News: Healthcare Professionals Alerted to Reported Medication Errors Between TOPAMAX®(topiramate) Tablets and TOPROL-XL^® (metroprolol succinate) extended-release tablets

For pharmacists, Ortho-McNeil Neurologics, Inc., offers these suggestions to help reduce the potential for future errors:

• Place TOPAMAX^® and TOPROL-XL^® apart from one another on the pharmacy shelf; we advise using the downloadable "shelf talker" (if applicable).
• Confirm the brand and generic names prescribed on written and oral prescriptions.
• Use both the brand and generic names when communicating the drug names within the pharmacy.
• Counsel patients about the brand name, indication and proper use of each medication.

For drug database content providers, Ortho-McNeil Neurologics, Inc., suggests these error-reduction tactics:

• Install sound-alike/look-alike name-alert warnings for the name-pair confusion between TOPAMAX and TOPROL-XL.
• Use “tall man” lettering to highlight the end of each name—that is, topAMAX and topROL-XL.
• Avoid the use of confusing drug mnemonics such as "TOP".
• Use both the brand and generic names when communicating the drug names.